102 Comments

It makes you wonder why right-leaning millionaires and billionaires refuse to do anything similar. Maybe they just have no taste?

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That's a billion-dollar civilization-saving question.

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And it’s one I’ve been pondering for a long time. $800,000 is really a drop in the bucket for those in the upper-echelons of wealth. Plenty of non-cringe grants could be given out to likeminded people in an attempt to counteract this MacArthur junk, but no.

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I saw the Cerno article literally right after I posted my last comment here. There are no coincidences.

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It's like handing out cash to people for agreeing with you is marxist or something. Conservatives, particularly the rich ones, are so dumb.

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They did. Most of the left patronage networks were originally founded by right-leaning millionaires. Their boards got taken over by the left after the founders' deaths.

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A lack of succession planning has ruined many a fine organization.

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Finding right-wing people who are explicitly interested in running a non-profit is quite difficult. Finding left-wing people is like looking for sand on the beach. And left-wingers are more than willing to engage in entryism.

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See Conquest's Second Law:

2. Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.

https://charltonteaching.blogspot.com/2015/09/conquests-third-law.html

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They're busy hoovering up every loose dime so they can leave their dilettante families a hoard of cash that will last generations. Dilettante family members that will probably be raised more than a bit left of center since they won't ever know struggle. Family members that will pack the boards of their family charities with useless DEI champions who will elect to focus the charity's efforts on promoting worthless people.

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It’s like clockwork, isn’t it?

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I'd love to know why the "conservative" money makers refuse to use Leftists tactics to beat them in the game. Perhaps they agree with them on some level?

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Probably because of ethics and integrity

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Most leftist tactics inherently help the left, no matter who tries to use them.

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I would normally agree with your statement in the political arena. However, the Right, for the most part, lacks any sense of tactics or even a basic strategy. You can't expect to win a battle if your soldiers receive no training or orders. At this point, the Right isn't even on the battlefield.

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> However, the Right, for the most part, lacks any sense of tactics or even a basic strategy.

Which would explain why the Right keeps trying to cargo cult leftist tactics in ways that inevitably backfire.

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Here’s an oldie but a goodie, from the first Substack I ever read:

https://saintjerome.substack.com/p/metacapitalism-why-after-all-do-billionaires

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Good article. That’s a conclusion I came to about 10 years ago: that our system, and maybe capitalism generally, leads to oligopolies in which the oligarchs use their power and great wealth, and that of the state they control via said great wealth, to pull up the ladder behind them lest any start-up or mythical garage entrepreneur become a serious threat. Same as it ever was.

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Well, there's now the Dwight D. Opperman foundation, I'm not sure who they are, but apparently they somehow got the right to present the Ruth Bader Ginsburg awards and are using it to troll the left.

https://archive.is/wBYYw

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I am still waiting for the 60-minute episode where they interview illegals and the illegals explain how they were recruited by NGO operatives with promises of Citizenship and transportation. Is anyone else surprised by the lack of interest in how the illegals are brought here? It's a forbidden story. We aren't dealing with some border migration of a few Mexicans. Instead we have a planned and executed invasion.

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Well I for one am interested on how they came here. As an avid hiker and backpacker I can tell you walking a hundred miles takes more than one pair of boots and a hell of a lot of expensive, heavy supplies in a giant bag. And you must be extremely fit. Those grade school backpacks carried by squishy bodies coming over the border are not equal to the task of walking twenty miles let alone 2,000! These people have had enormous support. Where did it come from?

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It came from your tax dollars and the money printing machine. Unlimited funding through secret and hidden "cash cards". You have no idea how much funding is behind this.

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Catholic Charities and the Red Cross are a couple of the players. A ton of NGO's. The Chinese basically have their own lines to get in with facilities and transport. Our government is paying to directly fly in many; I don't know what their status has to be but it is happening also. It's like a new business plan to rake in the Pay-O-La.

Later Jay

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May 9Edited

I remember Open Society Foundation funding provisions & clothing for these caravans during the Trump era.

There's also this anecdote from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9blTTYbGlE0&t=1124

""

The ones coming over the Border you know they're not even Mexican anymore they're like you know Chinese, middle eastern, African and it's like how did you even get to Mexico in the first place to be able to cross over.

I mean I knew a guy who was going from, I think he was going from Africa, to El Salvador and he was flying first class and he looked around in this first class cabin and it was a bunch of guys in like really rough t-shirts; all carrying a plastic bag with their possessions and he thought: this is a bit odd.

And so he started speaking to a few of them and, most of them didn't speak English, but they were all basically just a bunch of Africans who had been scooped up, put on first class flights, and sent out to El Salvador where they could then begin their journey into America

""

El Salvador to the border is ~1500 miles, or ~560 hours walking according to Google Maps. So walking would take around a month. That is, if they didn't have chartered buses from after entering South America.

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They've got a real tight rope walking act, pretending the Great Replacement is a right wing myth while also shepherding in millions of illegals every year (at tax payer expense) and telling the country it's a great thing.

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You won't see that on 60 Minutes, completely captured regime media.

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This is all absolutely true- particularly in regards to the arts. Typically, when I see an artist has received a grant (practically of any kind) their work is usually shite. In order to receive one, you must have been able to do the box-checking. Art today, feels like homework. Hopelessly academic, grievance based- drumming up the ills and plights of the past with little or no concern for the individual. I hate just about anything based on one´s "heritage", with the exception of family recipes.

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Amazing how “box-checking “ used to be about excellence and service- military record. Even the Romans described their leaders using their military roles.

Now? All about DIE. Utter nonsense

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It certainly corrupts and pipelines the role of artists. Now, you can hardly find an artist that does not sprinkle words like "marginalized", "colonized", "slavery", or "historically underrepresented" into their bios and incomprehensible, jargon laced artist statements. The artist has been fed a dream that it is their job to change the world by activist-bloated social and political commentary. Unfortunately, the art students that comprise the gallery world and museum purchases have taken note and the feedback loop is a complete circle. The spoils will go to those who tow the line- talent or voice be damned.

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The great artists, even the really weird and abstract ones like Picasso, Van Gogh, Dali, Kandinsky, Modigliani, etc. all came from a foundation of study and a high ability that stood on the talents and knowledge of realism that their predecessors demonstrated over centuries before they created abstract, cubist, surreal, etc. art. The majority of modern “artists” couldn’t compose a realistic piece if they tried. They don’t have the foundations or skills. It’s all politics and no beauty.

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This is true. The old techniques are still relevant. Learn to paint. Learn to draw. I have focused on abstraction for most of my life- with the knowledge that I was a skillful illustrator and painter. What matters to me more, however, is the expression of the personal. Picasso painted lovers, friends, landscapes, women and men that were in his view and dreams. Dali was certainly a gifted painter and a dreamscapist (surrealist). Kandinsky spent most of his career dealing with pure abstraction. Truth be told, I want work to be beautiful and personal. Political or socially driven art is typically neither. It does not mean it cannot- but, it usually isn't.

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In the words of George Clinton: “You can’t fake the funk”.

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When you go into a modern art museum, the general impression is "How the fuck is this garbage considered art?"

About 75% of modern art could be duplicated by children who aren't trying to make art.

I see real artists with compositional talent at the yearly art fair my town organizes. No one will buy modern art trash heaps there, so the people who show up know how to paint and sculpt because they're trying to sell what they've created and get commission work.

The NEA mostly awards grants to horrible modern art frauds, sadly.

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The majority of public sculptures around town ( Charlottesville, VA ) on the roadsides etc. are such childish hack compositions. It’s all nepotistic political connections and very little talent. There are a few exceptions, but they’re few and far between.

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True, but I would point out that many of the most famous 'modern' artists came from families with deep pockets (Dali, et al) which gave them the freedom to hone some kind of ability without the sword of Survival hanging over their heads. Hell, even Max Ernst was savvy enough to marry a Gugenheim!

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I don’t see how that’s relevant to the argument.

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The bios and summaries of the artists in the article by @yuribezmenov is a perfect illustration of this.

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A culture that works so hard to celebrate and elevate mediocre people is a doomed culture.

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As someone who loves to visit places that should display or showcase art, I completely agree. And I am disappointed, but not surprised, that I find the same crap here in Free America (places outside of blue cities or states). Almost every museum, every dance (ballet or modern), every concert has some kind of sign, announcement or indicator that they are "doing the work". It taints my experience before I've even had it. Inevitably, as you already stated, the "art" is crap - just cookie cutter stuff that's been beaten into their little heads. It's really sad.

Now, the further I go away from cities out into the country, there I can find some art. The places that leftists see as racist, homophobic or whateverist are almost always welcoming to all types and kinds and the art reflects a much more engaging presence of the artists.

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That is encouraging. I spent 6 years in Los Angeles- could not find an entry into that world. I think I even smelled differently. I moved to Brasil almost 4 years ago. I have stepped back from the art world in a big way. Glad that you are determined to experience art and dance and the like. We need these things. America is also full of philistines, from my experience.

Thanks, BlueStateRefugee

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"I think I even smelled differently."

You probably smelled clean. I speak from experience - blue city residents are not the most hygienic.

Yes, America has a lot of philistines. But I find them in large groups in deep blue cities. Much of the population there has no interest in art. They are looking to display their religiosity among their fellow travelers and are looking for external validation - that they've said the proper statements and performed the proper ablutions in their temples. Their words and actions are mindless.

It has been a real joy for me to travel into remote areas of America (mostly in the South) and find real connections and real art in various communities. Of course, it's far from perfect and rural areas have a lot of very significant problems. But as far as art goes, I find artists to be much more authentic and they seem to be welcomed where they display their work.

You're very welcome.

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Ex: I've found the art scene in Houston to be better than the art scene in Austin, a city much more known for creative pursuits.

Houston artists tend to be more focused on making sure their art tells a story that is understandable by people who aren't "sophisticated" art snobs.

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Oh Lawd! The "sophisticated" art snob. I can't stand 'em! NYC is top to bottom, left to right full of them - with rare exception. In fact, I grew up hating art in most of its forms because it came with the price tag of enduring the snootiness of its producers and supporters. Blech. Pretentiousness on steroids. No, thanks.

If someone is looking for the authentic experience of what is today, usually, a rich Karen who virtue signals at the Olympic level, I know where to find that kind of art. And so do you! And if I'm in the right space, I can actually enjoy it because it's funny as hell.

Otherwise, I find more interesting and engaging art elsewhere.

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My general rule of thumb is that if it takes more than 2-3 sentences to explain the concept behind the art, then it's bullshit because the creator clearly failed to communicate via the visual medium of their art.

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I am originally from Georgia, born in Atlanta. Ha.

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Well, look at that!

Hope you're enjoying Brazil and those huge capybaras walking around. They creep me out.

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Yeah, totally agree. While I hate to say it, inasmuch as we live in a dark age of shameless opportunists: succeeding socially is fundamentally a failure nowadays. Especially in the arts, as you note. Looks like this is just as true for the sciences as well; anyone with self-respect has to "go medieval" in a sense, and make sensible work in the provinces (where there are no grand awards; less money less problem?) Maybe? Hah!

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Maybe so. But I see what you mean-a failure of a kind at the moment.

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Here on Substack, I follow someone who won the MacArthur grant, and they have the gall to complain about how they suffered prejudice (from racist white police of course) the same day of accepting their award (which I thought was half a million, but turns out to be a whopping $800,000 now; or always had been?) I suppose entitlement only grows the more it gets.

Speaking somewhere between figurative and literal, we'e reached the point where special interests are just printing their own dollars. The rest of us peasants are trying to play an honest game in this increasingly globalist monopoly run by a woke caste of brahmin counterfeiters.

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You get a gold star. Our enemies print money. We will never beat them at that game. Play a different game.

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Nice pun – the operative word being GOLD! Haha! Yeah, 'more fiat more evil' (who said this? Somebody said something like this; seems about right). No, I'm not referring to B.I.G. although his song is also true here. Regardless, you are correct.

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One molecular biologist on that list. One. I remember when MacArthur grant was synonymous with STEM. Wowsa.

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I wonder if removing tax-exempt status for non-profits would not be a solution. If they had to pay taxes, they would eventually run out of money.

Very little of the money actually goes to the poor, so why should these institutions be tax-exempt?

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The best thing about substack is also the "worst":

To know the truth, is to know it will make you "mad" - in both senses of the word .

Nonetheless you can't "unlook" it.

Thanks once again Yuri for learning me up.

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Everything from the MacArthur to the Pulitzer to the National Book Awards to the Guggenheims etc should be renamed The White Guilt Awards. (At least then there'd be truth in advertising.)

"And the winner for best Oppression Porn meant to tickle the erogenous zones of pious white liberals in the category of Gay Latinx is..."

Our time will go down as the Golden Age of Tokenism, where all achievements reflect only a high score on the Oppression-O-Meter.

Once again: these people are somehow ALL THE SAME PEOPLE (which is quite an accomplishment for people who claim to be artists, writers and "radicals").

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What do those working in DEI do all day? What kind of “work” do they do? All those people you show on these boards, on these foundations, look like over educated ( with do nothing degrees), soft, foolish, entitled babies.

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They don't do productive work. They advocate for hiring more people from their demographic, mostly.

When I was at Deloitte in the mid 2000s, the national Diversity Coordinator worked in my office. She was a Hispanic lady who worked tirelessly to get the company to hire more Hispanics.

Gotta give her credit. She was getting paid over $100,000 to implement an absolutely racist hiring policy.

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Nothing.

In Malaysia, ethnic Malays know that they do not need to do anything at work… so they don’t. Social forces burn out any remaining to desire to work because it would get you ridiculed.

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Wow, another nothing foundation! Potentially talented, creative humans capable of valued contributions to humanity who in actuality are utterly useless

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Well, these folks have to fund each other. Most certainly couldn’t work and make a living doing something useful.

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They've got Walmart cashier skillsets and Neurosurgeon paychecks.

Must be a good life.

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Absolutely right.

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They used to be less partisan than that and more focused on STEM. A physicist at Berkeley who is a solid scientist (Richard Muller), whose thesis advisor was Nobel Prize winner Luis Alvarez, got one of the early grants.

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Cormac McCarthy is the best American novelist of the past 50 years and he got an early grant.

Now they give their grants to talentless hacks.

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I noticed this too. It's offensive to me that Cormac McCarthy is on a list with Ibram Kendi.

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Really shows how far they’ve fallen

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Richard and Michael Shellenberger go way back to Michael’s environmental organization in Berkeley.

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The white guy chose his acolytes well. A la Kafka they will eventually fulfill his self loathing and eat him whole.

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Representative democracy has failed.

We need something new.

Ross Perot called it The Electronic Townhall.

Citizenship

It is not about writing letters to elected officials or voting some good person into office.

Citizenship

Is about the Ratification or Annulment of each line of every law, rule, regulation and supreme court decision on the books or that is on the docket waiting to be turned into law, policy and taxes.

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NGOs, charities, and foundations such as this are just a make-work grift for the Professional Managerial Class. It’s a circle jerk.

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It's where they park upper-middle-class and upper-class white girls while their families find someone to marry them off to.

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Ooof! So true.

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